Digital systems are widening access to formal finance for previously excluded citizens, PM Abiy says

Addis Ababa, June 23, 2026 (FMC) – Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said that expanding digital systems are playing a growing role in integrating previously excluded citizens into the formal financial sector, as part of the country’s broader reform-driven transformation.

In opening remarks at the “ETHIOPIA DELIVERS” Summit held under the theme “From Reform to Lasting Change,” the Prime Minister said the impact of reforms is increasingly visible in how citizens engage with financial services and economic institutions.

He noted that digital transformation is enabling individuals who were previously outside formal structures to establish financial records, access services, and participate more fully in the economy.

The Prime Minister pointed to the national digital identification system as a key instrument in this shift, saying it is helping to connect citizens to both financial and public service systems in a more structured way.

He underscored that transformation should not be measured only through macroeconomic indicators, but also through the extent to which it expands opportunity and inclusion in everyday life.

He also cited examples of small entrepreneurs who, through digital platforms, are now able to build credit histories and enter formal economic systems for the first time.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the benefits of ongoing reforms are still uneven, adding that efforts must continue to ensure broader and more inclusive reach across society.

The “ETHIOPIA DELIVERS” Summit convened senior officials and stakeholders to assess the progress and outcomes of Ethiopia’s reform programme across key sectors of the economy and governance.